Juvet Landscape Hotel, Valldal, Norway

Juvet Landscape Hotel in Valldal, western Norway, is often described as the first "landscape hotel" in Europe, less a building than a series of glass-walled rooms scattered through a forest beside a rushing river. Designed by the architects Jensen & Skodvin, it was conceived to sit lightly on the land, so that the landscape itself becomes the main event. It became famous as the main location for Alex Garland's 2015 film *Ex Machina*, but its real star is the dramatic Norwegian nature all around it.

Location: Valldal, Norway

Juvet sits on Burtigarden, one of the oldest farms in the area, at Alstad in the Valldal valley, in western Norway. It is surrounded by birch, aspen, pine and massive boulders, close to Gudbrandsjuvet, a narrow, thundering gorge of the Valdøla River.

This is one of Norway's most spectacular regions. The UNESCO-listed Geirangerfjord, one of the world's most beautiful fjords, is within easy driving distance, as is Trollstigen, the famous hairpin mountain road. The Art Nouveau town of Ålesund is around 90 minutes away by car, and its airport is the most convenient gateway. A car is essential for exploring.

Rooms and suites at Juvet

There are just a handful of rooms, keeping the experience intimate. The seven Landscape Rooms are small cubes raised on stilts, so that the ground beneath them remains undisturbed. Each has at least one wall made entirely of glass, carefully angled so that every room frames a different view of the river, the gorge, the forest or the mountains. Interiors are deliberately dark and minimalist, so that nothing distracts from the scenery outside.

The two Birdhouses, built in 2012 and 2013 and inspired by traditional Norwegian storehouses, are perched high on stilts among the trees. They are simpler, without private bathrooms, so guests use the spa's facilities. There are also rooms in the old farm buildings, such as the Mill House, and a larger Writer's Lodge suitable for groups.

Facilities at Juvet

The Bath House spa is built largely of glass, set directly beside the river, with a 15-metre-wide window looking out over the water and forest. It has a steam room, showers, an outdoor hot tub and relaxation areas. Lying in the hot tub as the river rushes past is one of Juvet's most memorable experiences.

Dinner is served at a long communal table in the converted cow barn of the old farm. Menus change with the seasons and showcase foraged, hunted and fished ingredients from the surrounding area, and in summer, the famously sweet strawberries of the Valldal valley. Eating together with other guests creates a warm, convivial atmosphere at the end of the day.

The area is superb for outdoor activities. In summer, there is hiking, kayaking, fishing and fjord cruising; in winter and spring, there is skiing at nearby Stranda and ski touring in the surrounding mountains.

The mountain moment

The defining Juvet experience is simple: lying in bed in a Landscape Room, looking out through a wall of glass at the forest and the river, as though the room were a cinema screen and nature the film. As the owner, Knut Slinning, has put it, the windows act almost like a movie screen where nature is playing out. The view changes constantly with the weather, the seasons and the light.

Beyond the hotel, driving Trollstigen, with its eleven hairpin bends climbing a sheer mountainside, or standing above the Geirangerfjord, with waterfalls tumbling from the cliffs into deep blue water, are unforgettable mountain moments.

Why Juvet is one of the best mountain hotels

Juvet earns its place because it is one of the most original and influential mountain hotels of the past two decades. Its architecture is a masterclass in treading lightly, and it delivers a profound, almost meditative connection with nature.

It is not a conventional luxury hotel. Rooms are minimal, there is no room service, and the focus is entirely on the landscape. But for design lovers, film fans and anyone seeking a quiet, contemplative escape in one of Europe's most dramatic regions, it is unforgettable.

When to go to Juvet

Summer, roughly June to August, is the classic time to visit, with long light evenings, Valldal's famous strawberries, fjord cruises on the Geirangerfjord and Trollstigen open to traffic. Note that Trollstigen usually closes for the winter, typically from autumn until late spring. September brings autumn colour and fewer visitors. Winter and spring are quieter and more dramatic, with snow on the boulders, skiing at nearby Stranda and ski touring in the surrounding mountains. With so few rooms, book well ahead for summer, and check opening dates for the darker months.